Some career choices have more impact than others. At HSBC we exist with the purpose of Opening up a World of Opportunity. We use our unique expertise, capabilities, breadth and perspectives to provide opportunities for our customers and colleagues through global connectivity. We bring together the people, ideas and capital that nurture progress and growth, helping to create a better world – for our customers, our people, our investors, our communities and the planet we all share. Offering a diverse range of legal skills and jurisdictional experience across the full range of countries and territories in which our businesses operate, Group Legal plays an important role in the day-to-day and long-term planning activities of all our businesses around the world. Responsible for providing comprehensive legal advice to senior management and all Group functions, the team advises on and takes an active involvement in all business and operational strategies and initiatives, from legislative and regulatory matters to the setting of policies, standards, and procedures for guarding against and reporting on legal risk and reputational management issues. We currently have an opportunity to join our team in Australia in the role of Senior Legal Counsel. You will be supporting the Corporate & Institutional Banking business, providing advice on transactions, regulatory initiatives, and projects. This role offers an opportunity to work in a supportive team with a wealth of technical knowledge in corporate banking and finance law, where you would have exposure to a variety of matters. Involvement in projects as well as transactional work, will also enable you to contribute to the broader organisation as a whole. You will be someone with a commercial mindset, able to look at the big picture as well as the detail, and who thrives when working closely and collaboratively with others. Your main responsibilities will include:
• Providing legal advice and transactional support to the Corporate & Institutional Banking business (CIB). This will involve providing first class legal support to the Capital Markets & Advisory, Infrastructure and Sustainable Finance, Innovation Banking, Banking, Global Trade Solutions and Global Payments Solutions businesses within CIB. Transactions will include syndicated, club and bilateral lending, trade and receivables/supply chain finance, and cash management/payment products.
• Supporting the General Counsel and Head of CIB Legal with regulatory initiatives and projects and working collaboratively with legal and other stakeholders to drive projects across the CIB business.
• Supporting the General Counsel and Head of CIB Legal in the management of legal risk within the CIB business, including overseeing any remedial action required. This will include developing and communicating strategic policies, procedures, and controls for the CIB business to effectively manage the exposure to legal risk.
• Providing commercially sensitive, pragmatic, and cost-effective legal support.
• Proactively and promptly advising and engaging the business, the General Counsel and Head of CIB Legal on material legal issues or developments.
• Assisting in the supervision and management of less experienced lawyers and/or secondees and providing leadership and guidance.
• Maintain successful and mutually supportive working relationships with all members of Legal and other functions, and support achievement of HSBC values, goals and culture through personal behaviour, actions and decision-making.
• Contributing to legal innovation for the Australian business, including document automation projects. To be successful in this position you will need:
• To be a fully qualified lawyer, admitted to practice in Australia with significant post qualification experience in Australia (or a similar common law jurisdiction).
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with, and provide leadership to, other lawyers in the legal team and engage with senior stakeholders across the bank.
• In-house experience with a leading financial institution preferred.
• A strong knowledge of the Australian banking and financial services legal regime (or other similar common law jurisdiction).
• Up-to-date knowledge of developments in structuring and negotiation of lending / security documentation and the ability to draft and negotiate complex documentation.
• Strong corporate/institutional lending transactional experience essential (with exposure to complex syndicated/club lending transactions).
• Experience in cash management/payment solutions and trade/receivables finance products would be an advantage, but not essential.
• Flexibility and willingness to work on a variety of matters, from complex to routine with the ability to handle a diverse range of issues simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, making decisions under pressure and solving problems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility with business teams and other stakeholders.
• A proactive self-starter with strong organisational skills who works collaboratively and in an inclusive manner.
• Experience contributing to legal innovation through use of technology and AI tools would be well regarded. Preference will be given to candidates who hold Australian PR/Citizenship or New Zealand Citizenship, or who can demonstrate current unrestricted work rights in Australia without limitations. We value different perspectives, we succeed together, collaborating across boundaries, we take responsibility, holding ourselves accountable to get things done. Through these values, HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are appreciated and respected and where opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow in an inclusive environment. Applications from First Nations peoples are encouraged. As an HSBC employee in Australia, you’ll have access to tailored professional development opportunities, competitive pay, an embedded adaptable working culture and a range of employee benefits. These include market-leading subsidised private health cover, enhanced parental pay and support when returning to work, subsidised financial products and services, bonus leave days and wellness programmes including discounted gym memberships. Learn more about careers at HSBC Australia – https://www.hsbc.com/careers/where-we-hire/australia. Personal data held by the Bank relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website. Issued by HSBC Bank Australia Limited. Please note that HSBC will we never communicate to applicants via non-HSBC channels such as SMS, WhatsApp or Facebook so please be careful if anyone attempts to contact you via these channels.
📌 Senior In-house Legal Counsel (Sydney)
🏢 Hsbc
📍 Sydney